Simplefying the Holidays

[limewave]

Most of our traditions do involve the kids, but we have a few of our own:

Making turkey sandwiches for Santa. Watching "Die Hard' while sharing a bottle of wine and wrapping gifts. . . . and eating turkey sandwiches.

Adopting a family or participating in Angel Tree--then shopping and wrapping gifts together.

Listening to my grandmother's Christmas albums on her 1950's record player.

Watching A White Christmas.

We always sit down b/w Christmas and New Year's and plan the races and events we want to do in the coming year. That's always fun and motivating.

A nekkid nap on the afternoon of Christmas Day. Thus thoroughly annoying DH's sisters when we are supremely late for the big In-Law Christmas gathering. lol.

Run the New Year's Day run together.

[Crankin]

DH and I made all of our traditions together, because we either A) didn't live near my family or B) weren't talking to his family . Our friends have always been more prominent in all holiday celebrations. When I first moved back to MA, I did do Jewish holidays and Thanksgiving with my grandparents, aunt and cousins, but after my grandparents died, as the years went on, I couldn't justify the issues that being with the others brought up. This occurred mostly after my kids left home. When the kids were little and we lived in AZ, we either drove to San Diego to be with my parents (4 hours of hell) or they came to Phx. My dad has come here twice for Thanksgiving since my mom died, but he is 86, almost 87, and although he is very active, I am not sure if he'll be able to do this again. My brother lives in San Diego, and so does one of my kids, so I don't worry about him.
I love the athletic things we have developed as traditions together, like hiking or nordic skiing on Christmas, and a bike ride on Rosh Hashanah.
Really, the only holidays I like are Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day (we always made a huge deal of this in my family of origin), and Passover.

[shootingstar]

I'm not sure what we will be doing here for Christmas. It is my 2nd Christmas in this city.

Probably have a nice Christmas Eve dinner at home, it's a tradition both of our families did. Menu is always different every year. Play some Christmas music which I always enjoy during Dec.

I don't have a TV. It would be nice to cycle for even half an hr. on Christmas Eve if we don't have much ice around. We'll see...